Written by

Whether hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers will be able to get health insurance through Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act may hinge on whether the federal government approves a state plan that requires them to pay some of the cost of their health care.

"This is such a key part of our plan," said Debra Minott, secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. "If you don't have any of these elements of personal responsibility, it really just turns into a regular Medicaid program."

At least two other states - Michigan and Iowa - are trying a similar approach. And because ...